Minnie's Food Pantry in Plano is usually closed on Monday. But in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, pantry founder Cheryl Jackson opened her doors to feed furloughed federal workers still without paychecks because of the partial government shutdown.
"We figured that on Dr. Martin Luther King Day, because we celebrate him, because his quote is outside on our windows, we thought 'What a better way?'" Jackson said. "And because we know they are all off work today. And the kids are out of school. So what are these kids eating — these people have not had money for the last 31 days. That's something for you to think about."
Jackson had a team of volunteers pack and distribute meats, bread and vegetables to federal workers, who shuffled in and out of the pantry throughout the morning.
Brandon Weaver works for the Transportation Security Administration. He had never set foot in a food pantry before Monday.
"I don't know how long people can hold out, I really don't. It's tough," Weaver said.
Minnie's Food Pantry plans to continue to distribute food to federal workers until the government reopens.
